Commodity package for cigarettes and the like



April 11, 1944; T, E, wR 2,346,407

COMMODITY PACKAGE FOR CIGARETTES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 18, 1941 Patented Apr. 11, 1 944 2,346,407 coMMomrr memes Foa crcans'rras AND rm: mm

Thomas E. Wright, Chicago, 111.

Application August 18, 1941, Serial No. 407,254

1 Claim.

This invention relates to commodity packages particularly adapted for tobacco products such as cigarettes.

Cigarettes are most commonly sold in small packages of 20 with the individual cigarettes extending lengthwise of the package and 'removable endwise after opening or tearing off an end portion of the package. This is a convenient size for carrying on the person, but the cigarettes are apt to dry out quickly after the package is opened. Another common method of packing is in a box having a hinged top and bottom, but here also the cigarettes are all exposed when the box is opened. Where cigarettes are merchandised in packages of larger sizes, as for example in the so-called fifties containers, the problem becomes more diflicult because of the inconvenient size of the container and also because of the tendency for the cigarettes to dry out quickly. While smokers are urged to purchase these larger sizes as an economy and convenience for vacationing, travelling, and occasions where the larger package of cigarettes is intended to serve a longer period away from an immediate source of supply, it is found that the containers are unof the inner container.

handy and awkward because of their comparetively large size and the cigarettes dry out because of their exposure when the container is opened. Also, after a few cigarettes have been removed the remaining cigarettes are liable to roll around in the container, soon becoming loose and losing shape and smoking value.

The present inventionaims to provide a satisfactory solution to-this problem.

My invention contemplates an improved package and dispenser for cigarettes sold in fifties or any substantial quantity for carrying in the pocket or otherwise on the person of the user. It further contemplates a package which will keep the commodity, such as cigarettes, in a fresh condition for a considerable period of time. According to my invention the cigarettes are so packaged as to be kept in shape and substantially sealed until individually used. The cigarettes are so dispensed that only a few are exposed to the atmosphere at the time of removing a cigarette from the package.

I have also aimed to provide an improved package of the character described which will be attractive in appearance, economical in cost of manufacture, and convenient to the user.

In furtherance of these general objects I have provided apackage comprising an inner air-tight container which holds the cigarettes tightly packed in rows lengthwise of the container, an

outer container of heavier protective material for telescopically receiving the inner container, and means for moving the inner container in step-bystep ejecting movements through an open end of the outer container to progressively eject sections The inner container is preferably provided with scorings and tabs separating one section from another and each elected section may be conveniently torn off by means of its tab to facilitate access to the cigarettes at the open end. The inner container may also be made as a refill package and thus further promote economy.

Other objects and attendant advantages will be appreciated by those skilled in this art as the invention becomes better understood by reference to the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in

which- Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a commodity package embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the package open and the inner container partly ejected, and with part of the front wall broken away to show the front of the inner container;

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the inner container in the sealed condition before insertion into the outer container;

Fig. 4 is a similar view of a tray which coacts with the bottom of the inner container; and

Fig. 5 is a cross section longitudinally through the package showing the near end of the tray and inner container in elevation.

In illustrating my invention I have shown as an example a package designed for holding 50 cigarettes of standard size. The cigarettes are contained in a sealed air-tight inner container designated generally by II, the individual cigarettes being arranged in alternating rows of 12 and 13 cigarettes, respectively, in a row making up the contents of 50 cigarettes in the package. This number may, of course, be varied but it il lustrates a substantial number typical of a definite merchandising package problem. The container ll is preferably of transparent sheet material such as cellulose or synthetic resinous foil or film of sufiicient body to hold the cigarettes tightly packed in the shape and arrangement shown so as to provide with the contents a form-sustaining package. This inner container is hermetically sealed. The cigarettes are thus tightly packedin an air-tight container, preserving their original shape and quality. The arrangement of the cigarettes differs from the ordinary package in that they are disposed crosswise to the major axis of the container. This is of particular advantage in my invention because the cigarettes in the lower strata are sealed against the air by the closely packed cigarettes in the upper strata and removal of cigarettes at the open end of the container does not'disturb the cigarettes in the lower strata nor the sealing function of such lower cigarettes. This inner container may be fabricated or formed in any suitable or desired manner in keeping with the purposes of my invention and in the present instance I have shown it composed of a single sheet wrapper having front and back portions I2 and I3, respectively, end portions l4 and ii, an end strip id to which the front portion I2 is sealed along the entire length of the container and top and bottom portions I1 and I8, respectively, which are folded over and sealed, providing a hermetically sealed package or container.

In the preferred embodiment this container is scored circumferentially along lines l9 at spaced intervals to provide a plurality of lengthwise spaced sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 3 A

pull tab 2| is provided for each of these sections as, for example, by forming the tabs along the sealed edge of'the front portion l2, the tabs being bent over so as to normally lie flat against the endportion l5. These tabs are adapted to facilitate tearing off of the individua1 sections along the scoring lines l9 so as to remove the surplus wrapper material as the cigarettes are used. This package may be used alone or in combination with an outer container. When used alone the package would be of heavier material and plural sheets could be used to make up the wrapper, that is, inner and outer wrappings.

My invention also contemplates the provision of an outer protective container and dispensing means in coaction with the cigarette package. The outer container designated generally by 22 is preferably of heavier form-sustaining material of a shape conforming to that of the inner container and adapted to provide a, protective carrier for the lighter and more fragile inner container, particularly if the latter is of transparent film. In the present embodiment the outer container has front, rear, side and bottom walls 23, 24, 25 and 28, respectively, of permanent form, and an open top adapted to be closed by a cover 21 which may be hinged at 28 to the rear wall 24. This outer container is adapted to receive the inner container telescopically through the open end and to entirely enclose the inner container when the cover is in the closed position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The inner container is intended to fit within the outer container with just suiiicient clearance to allow for sliding movement of the inner container for the purpose of progressively ejecting the sections of the inner container through the open end of the outer container.

My invention contemplates the provision of means coacting between the inner and outer containers for effecting the said ejecting movements and for retaining the inner container in each position to which it is moved. In the preferred embodiment this comprises a tape or ribbon designated generally by 29 of any suitable material fixed at one end to the back wall of the outer container near the top thereof, as indicated at 3| in Fig. 5, and extending downwardly therefrom around the bottom of the inner container and thence upwardly to the open top of the outer container and outwardly over an edge 32 and terminating in a free end 33. This means also includes in the preferred embodiment a tray designated generally by 34 of comparatively sti-if material which covers the entire bottom of the inner container and has end walls 35 and a side wall 36 fitting against the container. The tape 29 passes around under the tray 34 and the latter serves to provide a smooth bearing surface for the tape so that the inner container will not be distorted or injured by the sliding action and the pulling force of the tape. This tray also fits snugly at its ends against the inner walls of the outer container so as to have sufiicient frictional engagement therewith to retain the inner container in each position to which it has been moved in the course of the ejecting operations. However, instead of a tray such as here disclosed, a bottom member may be substituted therefor and suitably applied to the under side of the cigarette container or directly incorporated in the wrapper structure to serve a supporting or reinforcing function and also as a bearing surface for the tape.

A suitable packing 3'! such as a strip of cotton or the like, is applied in the cover to better seal the open end of the container. Also, suitable means is provided for releasably retaining the cover in closed position, in this instance comprising pressed in ribs 38 on the cover and ribs 39 pressed out from the front wall of the outer container and adapted to be engaged in a snap over action by the coacting ribs 38 when the cover is moved to the closed position.

Another embodiment of my invention is contemplated by providing in the front wall of the outer container an opening of substantial size. such as of an area similar to the broken away section shown in Fig. 2, so as to expose to view the inner container, its position, and the contents of the cigarette package where the latter is of transparent material. This not only serves as a merchandise display but also shows the quantity of the contents. As a further means of visually indicating the quantity or number of cigarettes, numerals may be applied to the tape. the number appearing on the extended end adjacent to the cover indicating approximately the number of cigarettes remaining in the inner container. In the preferred embodiment the front wall of the cover also serves when in the closed position to clamp the free end of the tape, thereby retaining or locking the tape and consequently the cigarette package in the position to which it has been moved.

From the foregoing it will be observed that I have provided a simple and effective commodity package for the purposes intended, and that the invention may be employed for commodity packaging other than tobacco products.

While I have shown a particular embodiment of my invention, it will be understood, of course, that I do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and I therefore contemplate by the appended claim to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

I claim:

A cigarette package of pocket size for fifties" quantity comprising a wrapper formed to provide a container of flat elongated shape in which the cigarettes are packed one against another in rows extending lengthwise of the container and the cigarettes of each row are packed directly against those in the adjoining row or rows, the container serving to support the cigarettes In the described relation and being hermetically sealed, and means associated with the wrapper for removing the top end of the containerthroughout the width thereof to permit removal of the uppermost cigarettes, said means providing for removing definitely limited sections of the wrapper progressively section by section from said upper end toward the opposite end for access to the cigarattes in the lower strata, whereby only the cigarettes at the top end of the container are exposed to the atmosphere when the container is open and cigarettes in the lower strata are maintained in shape and substantially air-tight by the sealing contact of the cigarettes one against another in the upper strata, an outer protective container open at one end to telescopically receive the inner container, 9, cover hinged to the outer container adapted to close said end opening and movable to an open position to provide access to the top end of the inner container, a stiff exterior supporting tray for receiving the bottom portion of the inner container and separable therefrom so as to be usable with refill inner containers, and'a tape fixed at one end to the back wall of the outer container adjacent to the top thereof and passing down around the bottom of the tray for sliding coaction therewith, thence upwardly along the front of the inner container and having its free end emanating from the top portion of the outer container, whereby the tape may be pulled to progressively eject the inner container so that said sections thereof may be progressively removed.

THOMAS E. WRIGHT. 

